Attractive spots for Chinese investors

Attractive spots for Chinese investors

Attractions for Chinese investors; Chinese investors, the fourteenth meeting of the post-embargo economic headquarters of the Tehran Chamber with the focus on trade with China and its development strategies were discussed by the private sector; Because China is one of the countries that has always had a good trade relationship with Iran, even during the embargo period; According to customs statistics, China is still one of Iran’s first trading partners and according to statistics, Iran’s exports to China in 1393 was equivalent to 9 billion and 388 million dollars, but in contrast to Iran’s imports from China in the same year, 12 billion And $ 732 million was reported. Meanwhile, in 1994, Iran’s imports from China reached 10 billion and 435 million dollars, which compared to 1993, has decreased.

On the other hand, statistics show that Iran was able to export 7 billion and 228 million dollars to China in 1994, which shows a decrease in exports compared to the statistics of 1993. Also, according to the latest customs statistics, China is still the largest buyer of Iranian goods; In the 5 months ending August this year, Iran’s non-oil exports to China reached 3 billion and 405 million dollars, which shows a growth of 2.69 percent over the same period last year. On the other hand, China during the mentioned period with 3 billion and 863 million dollars was the first in the import of goods to Iran. On the other hand, after Borjam, the interest of various Asian and European countries to cooperate with Iran has been significant. Therefore, according to private sector activists, a list of projects in which foreign investors, including China, may be present, should be compiled and put on the agenda. According to the Tehran Chamber of Public Relations, Fereydoun Verdinejad, Advisor to the Secretary General of the Tehran Chamber and former Iranian Ambassador to China, presented a report on how to develop Iran-China trade with a focus on the private sector.

Three ways of cooperation between Iran and China

Fereydoun Verdinejad analyzed the investment capacities and joint cooperation between Iran and China and enumerated the projects that both sides can focus on. Adviser to the Secretary General of the Tehran Chamber, stating that there are currently three ways of economic cooperation between Iran and China, said: Financing of large and medium-sized projects and investing in Iranian projects is a form of cooperation between Iran and China. Adviser to the Secretary General of the Tehran Chamber, pointing out that cooperation in the form of national and industrial projects is within the framework of financing and credits approved between the two countries, added:

According to him, Iran’s current credit in China is about $ 20 billion, and the country is willing to provide only three times as much as financing to Iranian investors. According to the former Iranian ambassador to China, Chinese investment in small and medium-sized projects in Iran, which is less than $ 100 million, provides the conditions for more private sector presence.

Verdinejad believes that Chinese investors are mainly interested in participating in semi-finished projects in the country and do not show much interest in creating new projects. He added: “Therefore, it is necessary to focus on attracting Chinese investors to projects under $ 100 million, the infrastructure studies of which have been fully completed.” He described the potential for economic co-operation between the two countries as joint ventures in projects involving some Chinese provinces and autonomous centers. Among them, 8 states and autonomous regions, which are supported and credited by the Chinese government, have been selected as more suitable partners for cooperation and can be planned in the Tehran Chamber. According to him, these areas are mainly located along the Silk Road, and in practice, the central government of the country has planned long-term plans for these areas.

Iran’s 11th priority for the Chinese

Adviser to the Secretary General of the Tehran Chamber also pointed to the importance of the Silk Road and its peripheral countries for the current Chinese government and said: . Verdinejad named Singapore, Russia, Saudi Arabia and Oman as the most important countries for China to invest. He added that the United States and Japan have placed 70 percent and 60 percent of their economic potential outside their countries, respectively. “Currently, China has only 12 percent of its economic capacity outside the country and according to plans In the hands of the government, this capacity should increase to 40 to 50 percent in the next 15 years. Asked what are the ways to develop Iran-China trade, Verdinejad said: “The Chinese government and the private sector believe that several Chinese or Iranian companies will start cooperating in light and high-yield industries as joint ventures.”

Investment Challenges in Iran

He also pointed to some of the challenges of investing in Iran from the Chinese point of view and said: “The Chinese consider the political and governmental nature of the Iranian economy as a serious risk.” Also, the lack of seriousness of the private sector in the country’s economy and some financial and banking problems are considered to be the reason for slow investment in Iran. Advisor to the Secretary General of the Tehran Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the ignorance of investors and economic actors of the two countries about the industrial and economic capacities of the two sides as another challenge to develop cooperation and suggested: training programs and travel tours for businessmen and entrepreneurs of the two countries should be provided. He mentioned investing in the construction and development of industrial towns, tower construction, construction of hotels and recreation centers, as well as construction and development of stadiums as the priorities of Chinese investment in Iran.

On the other hand, Behrouz Alishiri, a member of the post-embargo economic staff of the Tehran Chamber, pointed out that the economic relations between Iran and China started at $ 3 billion a year and now the trade relations between the two countries have reached $ 40 billion. Export of technical and engineering services can be one of the ways to develop relations between the two countries. He cited the modeling of the Chinese production model as another solution, adding: “Currently, the Chinese government’s strategy is access to energy, in which we must draw up policies to develop our relations with this country.”

The head of the Money and Capital Markets Commission of the Tehran Chamber also said that one of the problems in attracting foreign investment is the lack of access to foreign exchange guarantees for the Iranian private sector. Ali Sanginian suggested that the Tehran Chamber, in correspondence with the Central Bank, inform the officials of this institution of the need for this action so that the Central Bank would allow the country’s banks to issue the necessary foreign currency guarantees to private sector enterprises. The head of the Foreign Investment Committee of the Tehran Chamber of Commerce and Industry, noting that Chinese state-owned companies will not invest in Iran without the permission of the Chinese government, said: “One way to develop bilateral relations is for Chinese private sector companies And they have good finances and do not need permission from the government to be encouraged to invest in Iran. Pointing out that China is in serious need of Iranian energy, oil and gas, Ferial Mostofi added: “However, the knowledge and awareness of Chinese entrepreneurs and investors about Iran is limited and appropriate measures should be taken in this regard.”

Entering third markets

Hamidreza Salehi, Deputy Chairman of the Energy and Environment Commission of the Tehran Chamber, also pointed out that Chinese companies have a very high financial capacity, and said: “Instead of financing, we should seek Chinese investment in Iran.” He said that Chinese investors in the last two years have mainly negotiated with the government and state-owned enterprises in Iran, adding: “In this regard, in negotiations with the government, officials can be persuaded that state-owned companies with the participation of the private sector to cooperate with China.” Continue. According to Salehi, another area of ​​cooperation between the two countries is the creation of joint projects and entry into third markets, in which Iranian private sector companies have a high potential. Hamed Vahedi, a member of the presidium of the Tehran Chamber, called the tourism industry one of the areas of joint cooperation between the two countries and said: “The Chinese government has considered strategic plans for the tourism industry, in which high capacities are provided inside the country.” He described the negotiations with the Central Bank for issuing foreign exchange guarantees as one of the first steps to attract foreign investment in the country.

According to the report, Mehdi Jahangiri, the head of the post-embargo economic headquarters, pointed out that the country’s trade and economic policy is cooperation with major industrialized countries, and China is also on the list. The country, which has study plans, is on the agenda of the Tehran Chamber so that foreign investors can invest in our country with sufficient information. The Vice President of the Tehran Chamber also mentioned the sending of a high-ranking economic delegation from the Tehran Chamber to China as one of the programs of this chamber, and at the same time reminded that the issue of issuing foreign exchange guarantees for Iranian companies during the next meeting of the headquarters and inviting Central Bank representatives and managers The agent of some banks will be discussed.

Mohammad Lahouti, another member of the Post-Sanctions Economic Headquarters and the Tehran Chamber of Deputies, emphasized the identification of economic and industrial capacities in the country and said: “By identifying these capacities, the target countries and suitable investors of projects can be identified. Drawn in the country. The director of the Tehran Chamber Training Center also announced the development of the Chamber’s training programs in the second half of this year and added: “Based on the plans made, the training of small and medium enterprises has been given priority.” Nasser Andalib said that in the field of relations with China, appropriate training programs can be held in the second half of this year, adding: workshop on the principles and techniques of trade negotiations with China, familiarity with trade opportunities on the Silk Road and legal issues and Trade regulations with China are on the agenda of the Tehran Chamber Training Center. The Secretary General of the Tehran Chamber also emphasized the interaction of small and medium-sized enterprises in relation to China and said: “Instead of creating a policy, a policy of revival should be pursued in the face of China.” The Deputy Minister of International Affairs of the Tehran Chamber also stated that after Borjam, the interest of European countries in cooperating with Iran has been significant. Ready to be presented.

منبع : دنیای اقتصاد